KIEV, Dec. 22 – The National Bank of Ukraine forecasts the deficit of Ukraine's balance of payments in 2011 at up to $3 billion, according to NBU's First Vice Governor Yuriy Kolobov.

"We expect 'minus' $2.9 billion – about $3 billion by the end of the year," Kolobov said.

"We're reservedly optimistic about current prospects for the foreign exchange rate of the hryvnia [amid favorable inflationary changes and the dynamics of foreign currency inflows from nonresidents]," he said.